Air-valve for steam-radiators



(No Model.)

J. H. LINDSAY. AIR VALVE FOR STEAMRADIATORS.

lPatented June 18, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. 4LINDSAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.l

A| R-vALvE FOR STEAM-RADIATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 499,463, dated June 13, 1893.

Application led February B, 1893. Serial No. 461,203. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN II. LINDSAY, of

' Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Valves for Steam-Radiators, of which the following is aspecification. j

My-invention relates to an improvement in air valves for steam radiators in which provision is made for automatically Vclosing the air escape under the influence of heat or the accumulation of water within the valve, and inoyhich the inflow of the steam and outHow of the water of condensation are so established as to prevent interference and the consequent liabilityof backing up the water inthe Valve before the air has escaped therefrom sufficiently to establish a circulation of hot steam through the radiator. Y

A practical embodiment of myinvention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a View of the valve in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a partial vertical central section of a slightly modified form.

A represents the casing or barrel of the valve secured at its lower end in a seat B having a threaded neck b extending laterally therefrom for the purpose of securing it to a radiator. The seat B is provided with an upper inlet port or conduit b and a lower outlet port or conduit b2, the latter during its course being provided with a bendb3 to form a trap. A pet cock C is connected with the seat B at the base of the trap bend b3 for purposes which will hereinafter more particularly appear. The normal water line in the trap bend b3 is denoted by a .dotted line b4. Both the inlet and discharge conduits b and Z22-open into the base of an expansible and contractible inner tube or casing D,the walls of which are preferably corrugated, as shown. The tube or casing D rests at its lower end on the bottom of a depression b5 in the seat B and at its upper end supports, by means of a flange e, an air tight tubular Hoat E. The float E extends down within the expansible and contractible tube D two-thirdsof the length of the tube more or less, and the inlet conduit b' is provided with a nozzle F located underneath the bottom of the float E and having its upper end f closed and openings f through its sides for distributing steam laterally into the tube D and preventing it from issuing directly against the bottom of the float. Openings d, d and d2 are arranged at the base, middle and upper portions respectively of the tube D to permit the steam which issues from the nozzle F to circulate within the casing A exterior to the tube D as well as within the said tube D. Ahead piece G, fixed within the upper end of the casing A, is provided with a centrally located air exit port g adapted to be closed and opened by the stopper H fixed to the upper end of the float E, as the latter is caused to rise and fall.

In the form represented in Fig. 2, I have shown the air discharge conduit g as provided with a downwardly directed flaring mouth g for receiving the tapered end h of the stopper and I have found it desirable to provide the head G with a downwardly projected annular flange g2 to receive the upper end of the tubular tloat and prevent the displacement of the latter after the parts have been assembled. y Over the top of the casing A and spaced from the head G, I provide a cap I, which may be conveniently screwed onto the top of casing, and is provided with a shoulderK for the purpose of spacing the cap from the air exit conduit g so as to permit the escape of the air from the conduit beneath the cap through suitable perforations in the sides of the cap.

In operation, suppose the water in the trap b3 be On the level of the dotted line b4 and -steam be turned ou to the radiator with which the valve may be connected. Because of the obstruction of the small quantity of water in the trap b3, the ai r driven by the inrushing steam will rush into the casing A through the port b and thence through the nozzle F into the eXpansible and contractible 'tube D, thence through its walls and upwardly around it and out through the air conduitg and thence ythrough the sides of the cap into the outside air. The water of condensation in the mean time will follow down within the casingAand within the tube D into the exit conduit b2 which will continue to discharge it back into the radiator as fast as it rises above the Water level of the trap. This action will continue until the tube D has expanded safti- IOO ciently to lift the stopper H into engagement With the mouth of the exit conduit g when the further escape of air will be checked and the circulation of steain through the radiator will continue. If for any reason the escape of Water from the casing A into the :radiator becomes checked, its accumulation within the tube D and casing A will lift the float E and shutoff the escape g before the Water is blown out to any considerable extent.

Vhen it is desired to rapidly free the radiator from air, the pet cock C may be opened, as shown in Fig. 2, permitting the small quantity of water within the trap b3 to discharge itself and the air to be driven by an inrush of steam through the pet cock as Well as through the smaller air escape g at the top. The valve thereby becomes either self-acting or under the control of the occupant of the room at pleasure.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the stopper H iiXed to the top of the oat consists of a fiat yielding pad adapted to press against the walls surrounding the lower end of the air escape conduit whenever the float is lifted.

1. The valve chamber or casing provided with an air discharge port or conduit, an air and steam inlet conduit and a trapped liquid discharge conduit, substantially as set forth. 2. The combination with the valve chainber or casing provided with an expansible and contractible tube therein and an air escape port or conduit, of a fioat supported upon the expansible and contractible tube and carrying a stopper for closing and opening the air discharge conduit, an air and steam inlet conduit opening within the expansible and contractible tube beneath the float and a trapped liquid discharge conduit, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, the valve chamber or casing provided with an air discharge port or conduit and an expansible and contractible tube Within the casing,a oat supported on the said expansible and contractible tube and carrying a stopper for the airdischarge port, separate air and steam inlet and liquid d ischarge ports and a pet cock connected with the liquid discharge port, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination, the valve chamber or casing provided with an air discharge conduit, a perforated corrugated expansible and contractible tube Within the casing, a oat supported on said expansible and contractible tube and provided with a stopper for .the air discharge, an air and steam inlet entering the casing within the corrugated tube beneath the float, a device forthrowing the current of air and steam laterally from under the float and a liquid discharge conduit, substantially as set forth.

JOHN H. LINDSAY.

Vitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNEs, I. B. DECKER. 

